Actuating means for door fastenings



ZJSQQBQ Fe. 1; 1957 P. s. JEAVONS ACTUATING MEANS FOR DOOR FASTENINGS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 19 1955 Feb. 12, 195 7 1 P. S..JEAVONS 2,780,934

ACTUATING MEANS FOR DOOR FASTENINGS Y Fil ed Sept. 19, 1955 I 3.Sheets-Sheet 2 Hlll nimnmuum Feb, 12, 195'? P. s. JEAVONS ACTUATING MEANSFOR DOOR FASTENINGS Filed Sept. 19, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 QQR ACTUATING MEANS FOR DOOR FASTENINGS Philip Swiugewood Jeavons, South Yardley, Birmingham,

England, assignor to Wilmot-Breeden Limited, Birmingham, England Application September 19, 1955, Serial No. 535,223 7 Claims. c1. 7o 207 The object of the present invention is to provide in an improved form, a means of the push-button type for actuating a door fastening, and particularly a fastening for a vehicle door.

A fastening-actuating means in accordance with the invention comprises the combination of a handle adapted to be fixedly attached to a door, a spring-loaded pushbutton occupying a recess in the handle, a plunger mounted coaxially with the push-button and adapted by angular movement thereof to be engaged with or disengaged from the push-button, and means for effecting angular movement of the plunger.

Embodiments of the invention will be described by.

way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a sectional view through a handle incorporating one fastening actuating means in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a section on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the push button and associated parts as seen from the left-hand side of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a similar view to Figure 1, illustrating a modified form of actuating means.

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Figure 5, on an enlarged scale.

Figure 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of Figure 5, on an enlarged scale.

Figure 8 is a sectional view of the push button and associated parts as seen from the left-hand side of Figure 5.

Figure 9 is a similar view to Figure 1 illustrating a further embodiment of the invention.

Figure 10 is a section on the line 1010 of Figure 9 on an enlarged scale.

Figure 11 is a similar section to Figure 10 but shows the mechanism in the unlocked position, and Figure 12 is a sectional view of the push button and associated parts as seen from the left-hand side of Figure 9.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 there is provided a handle 13 of barform for rigid attachment to the vehicle or other door. On one end of the handle is formed a hollow boss 14 which provides a recess 15 for accommodating the pushbutton 16.

The push-button 16 is slidable in the recess 15 and has formed on or secured to it a sleeve 17 having an inwardly directed flange 18 at its inner end. This sleeve 1'7 accommodates the outer end of a hollow plunger 19, which is slidably located within an aperture in the base 20 of the recess. In the inner end of the plunger 19 is adjustably mounted a screw pin 21 for transmitting releasing movements to the door fastening from the push button 16 through the plunger 19, and on this pin 21 is also a lock-nut which retains a washer 22 serving to prevent outward movement of the plunger beyond the position shown.

nited States Patent Q 2,780,934 Patented Feb. 12, 1957 Within the push-button 16 is contained the barrel of a key-operable lock 23 and from the inner end of the lock barrel extends "a sleeve 24. The lock barrel which is of known kind has a spring 25 the ends of which engage the sleeve 24 through a slot in the sleeve 17, and which returns the barrel to a central position after angular movement in either direction by a key. There is also provided a coiled compression spring 26 for urging the push button to its normal position. This spring 26 is interposed between the base 20 of the recess 15 and a washer 27 bearing on the inner end of the spring 25.

In the sleeve 24 there are formed a pair of diametrically opposite longitudinal slots 28 which are circumferentially recessed at their inner ends to provide shoulders 29.

- The plunger 19 has a pair of diametrically opposite longitudinal ribs 31 which at their upper ends are enlarged to form radial projections 32. These projections by their engagernent with the flange 18 prevent withdrawal of the plunger from the sleeves 17 and 24, and are of such a size that they can be freely accommodated within the slots 28 or can be engaged within the circumferential recesses at the inner sides of the shoulders 29. Also, the ribs 31 are of a size such that, when they are aligned with the recesses 30, the plunger can slide freely through the hole in the base 20, but, if the plunger is moved angularly about its axis, the ribs overlap the edges of the hole and prevent inward movement of the plunger.

Between the base 28 and the inner end of the spring 26 is an arm 33 projecting laterally through a slot in the base. This arm 33 has a hole in which the plunger 19 is engaged in a slidable but non-rotatable manner, and the arm is operable by a lever situated on the inside of the door for imparting angular movements to the plunger.

When the fastening is in the unlocked position the projections 32 are engaged in the circumferential recesses of the slots 28 at the inner side of the shoulders 29, and the ribs 31 are in alignment with the recesses 30 in the base. If in this position the push-button 16 is actuated, the push button and the plunger 19 move inwardly together and a release of the fastening is eifected. When the fastening is locked the ribs 31 overlap the edges of the hole in the base 20 and prevent inward movement of the plunger. Also, the projections 32 are in alignment with the main portions of the slots 28. If in this position the push button is actuated, the push button slides freely on the plunger 19.

The locking and unlocking of the door can be effected from the inside of the door through the arm 33 and from the outside of the door by a key engaging within the barrel lock 23. When the barrel lock 23 is moved angularly this angular movement is imparted to the plunger. On release of the lock it returns to its central position under the action of the spring 25, thereby engaging or disengaging the shoulders 29 from the projections 32.

By connecting the arm 33 with the latch mechanism means can be provided for unlocking the door in the event of it being inadvertently closed with the fastening in the locked position. In this case on closing the door the latch will impart angular movement to the arm 33 depressed. In this position, the plunger is prevented from angular movement by the interaction of the projections 32 with the slots 28, and movement of the linkage in the connection between the catch mechanism and the arm 33 is permitted by the overload spring.

In Figures 5 to 8 is illustrated a simplified construction substantially similar to the construction illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 but omitting the key-operable lock. In these figures parts similar to those in Figures 1 to 4 have been designated with the same reference numerals.

In this embodiment the projections 32 on the plunger 19 engage slots 34 similar to the slots 28 but formed in the sleeve 17 on the push button 16. This sleeve 17 is surrounded by a sleeve 35 having at its inner end a flange 36 serving the same purpose as the flange 18. The sleeve 35 also has a flange 37 against which the spring 26 bears.

The manner of operation of this embodiment will be 1 clear from the description of Figures 1 to 4.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 9 to 12, a push button 38 is mounted in a recess 39 in a handle 40 and has formed or secured on its inner side a cylindrical post 41 which slidably engages within a bore in a hollow plunger 42, which in turn is slidable within a bore in a part 43 formed integrally with the handle 40. The push button 38 is urged towards its normal position by means of a coiled compression spring 44 interposed between the push button and the part 43, and in the inner end of the post is a transverse pin the ends of which form a pair of radial projections 45 on the post. These projections 45 engage longitudinal slots 46 formed in the plunger 42. At their outer ends the slots 46 are circumferentially recessed to provide shoulders 47. Also there is formed on the periphery of the plunger a pair of diamertically opposite projections 48 which engage longitudinal slots 49 formed in the part 43. These slots at their outer ends have circumferentially extending recesses providing shoulders 50.

Surrounding the inner end of the part 43 is a cylindrical cap 51 formed at the one end of an arm 52 adapted for connection to a lever operable from the inside of the door and also, if desired, to a key operable lock of known kind. The cap is keyed to the plunger 42 by a diametrically disposed pin 53 located in the slots 46 and passing through circumferentially extending slots in the part 43. Angular movement imparted to the arm 52 is thus transmitted to the plunger 42.

When the mechanism is in the unlocked position (seen in Figure 11) the projections 48 on the plunger are in alignment with the slots 49 in the part 43 and the projections 45 on the post 41 bear against the shoulders 47. If in this position the push-button is depressed, the plunger will move inwardly with the post 41, and its inner end will impart a catch releasing movement to the fastening. When, however, the mechanism is in the locked position (seen in Figures 9, 10 and 12) the projections 48 bear against the shoulders 50 and the projections 45 are in alignment with the slots 46. If in this position the push button is depressed, the plunger is prevented from inward catch releasing movement and the post 41 slides within the plunger.

In order to admit of the door being locked from the outside without using a key and at the same time provide for the automatic unlocking of the mechanism in the event of the door being closed with the mechanism in the locked position, the latch mechanism is connected to one end of a link 54, the opposite end of which has a lateral pin 55 engaging a hole in the arm 52 and connected thereto through the agency of a coiled torsion spring 56. If the door is closed with the mechanism inadvertently in the locked position the latch mechanism will impart movement to the arm 54 which through the spring 56 will impart an unlocking movement to the lever 52 and plunger 42.

If, however, the door is closed with the mechanism in the locked position and the press button depressed, then the plunger will be prevented from angular movement by the interengagement of the projection 45 with the slots 46 and the movement of the arm 54 will be absorbed in the spring 56.

Although in all the embodiments described and illustrated the interengageable projections and slots, and ribs and recesses are arranged in diametrically opposite pairs, in each instance a single projection or rib could be substituted and adapted for interengagement with a slot or recess respectively, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A fastening-actuating means comprising in combination, a handle adapted to be fixedly attached to a door, a spring-loaded push-button occupying a recess in the handle, a plunger mounted coaXially with the push-button and adapted by angular movement thereof to be engaged with or disengaged from the push-button, and means for efiecting angular movement of the plunger.

2. A fastening-actuating means as claimed in claim 1, in which the plunger has at least one peripheral rib or projection which by engagement with a relatively fixed part prevents movement of the plunger when the plunger is disengaged from the push button.

3. A fastening-actuating means as claimed in claim 1 in which one of the components formed by the plunger and push button has a projection which is slidable within a slot in the complementary part, there being formed in said slot a shoulder which can be engaged with or disengaged from the projection by angular movement of the plunger.

4. A fastening-actuating means as claimed in claim 1 in which means is provided for imparting angular movement to the plunger from the inside and from the outside of the door, the latter comprising a key-operable lock.

5. A fastening-actuating means as claimed in claim 1 in which the push-button has combined with it a sleeve having at least one longitudinal slot in which is engaged a projection formed on the plunger upon which the sleeve can slide when the plunger is disengaged from the pushbutton, the slot having a shoulder which is in register with the projection when the plunger is engaged with the push-button.

6. A fastening-actuating means as claimed in claim 1 in which the push-button has combined with it a sleeve having at least one longitudinal slot in which is engaged a projection formed on the plunger upon which the sleeve can slide when the plunger is disengaged from the pushbutton, the slot having a shoulder which is in register with the projection when the plunger is engaged with the push-button, and the sleeve being formed on a key-operable barrel lock contained within the'push-button, and serving to transmit angular movement to the plunger.

7. A fastening-actuating means as claimed in claim 1 in which the pushbutton carries a post having a lateral projection engaging a slot formed in a hollow plunger in which the post is slidable when the plunger is disengaged from the push-button, the slot having a shoulder which is placed in register with the projection on the post when the plunger is engaged with the push-button.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 962,448 Miller June 28, 1910 1,991,822 Snipes 1 Feb. 19, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS 153,950 Australia Nov. 3, 1953 699,868 Great Britain Nov. 18, 1953 

